sweepstakes scam
Fake lottery scheme
A sweepstakes scam is a fraud in which someone is told they've won a lottery or prize but must pay fees, taxes, or processing charges to claim it.
The winnings don't exist—the scammer collects payments and disappears.
These schemes often target elderly victims through phone calls, mail, or email: My grandmother lost thousands to a sweepstakes scam before we found out.
- lotteryRandomized prize distribution
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- victimOne harmed by another
- emailDigital written communication
cold call · prize · gullible · fees · fine print · personal information · wire · wire transfer · send money · advance fee · elderly · Nigeria · caller · fake · money · grandma · elder abuse · telemarketer
- fraudfraud, swindle, con, deceive, cheat
- phone scamsrobocall, robocalls, vishing, phishing call, phishing calls
- scamsfraud, frauds, swindle, swindles, con
- mail crimesmail fraud, postal fraud, mail theft, mail tampering, postal theft
sweepstakes, scam, sweep, stake, stakes, sweeping, swept, sweeper, staked